Emil wettengel



N0. 609,7l5. Patented Aug. 23, I898. E. WETTENGEL.

V TUNING DEVICE FOR IUSICAL STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

(Application Mod Doc. 18, 1897.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

EMIL \VETTENGEL, OF MARKNEUKIRCI'IEN, GERMANY.

TUNING DEVICE FOR MUSICAL STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 609,715, dated August23, 1898. Application filed DecemberlS, 1897. Serial No. 662,49 7. (Nomodel.) Patentedin Austria S t b 1'7 1897, No. 3,427.

To (tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL WETTENGEL, a subject of the King of Saxony,German Emperor, residing at Markneukirehen,Germ any,

I have invented certain new and useful Iniprovements in Timing Devicesfor Musical String Instruments, (for which I have obtained a patent inAustria, No. 3,427, dated September 17, 1897 and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

To tighten the strings of many string in- 1 struments, pegs aregenerally employed, carrying on the outside a worm-wheel, which isoperated by a worm. This mechanism is customary, especially forinstruments of larger size; but in stringing an instrument and tak ingup the slack of the string when first brought in place much time islost, because in view of the gear of the worm-wheel the peg revolvesvery slowly. The present invention has for its object to obviate thisinconvenience, and the mechanism described hereinafter enables themusician to quickly turn the peg at first and then to bring, it intoengagement with the worm-wheel for fine tuning.

In the accompanying drawings the device is shown in Fig. 1 in frontelevation. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device, and Fig. 3 showsthe'peg and knob in detail.

The pegs A are lodged in the head of the instrument in the usual manner;but they are placed in their bearings in such a way that they permit ofa small longitudinal displacement. They pass through suitable holes inthe head, of wood or other material, and

r they pass at the same time through a bush or sleeve B, revolublysecured to the head and having at the outer circumference the teeth of aworm-wheel into which a worm B engages, having its shaft at right anglesto the corresponding peg A. Thus this worm-wheel is securely butrevolubly attached to the head of the instrument. The pegs A carry attheir outer end a knob A, screwed thereto or secured in any othersuitable way. Said knobs A are provided with a projecting tooth to,which, by pushing the peg longitudinally inside, can be thrown into oneor any of the notches a which are cut into the projecting hub l) of theworm-wheel B.

It is evident that the pegs when in the outward position (see middlepeg, right-hand side, Fig. I, and upper peg, Fig. 2) can be turnedfreely by using the head or knob A. Thus the slack of the string can befully taken up and the string can even be brought up quickly to itsfinal pitch, and then the musician pushes the peg longitudinally inside,so that the pin a rests in a corresponding notch a, thereby coupling thetwo parts together.

In making use now of the ordinary device t. e. ,the thumb-piece of theworm B the worm B will turn slowly and will compel the peg to follow inthe revolution, so that it is easy to tune the instrument finely.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In string instruments, apeg adapted to be moved longitudinally, passing loosely through theWorm-wheel of the ordinary tuning device and having an outer head with aprojecting tooth adapted to enter into a notch in the worm-wheel,substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

2. In string instruments, pegs longitudinally movable in the head of theinstrument, worm-wheels revolubly secured to a plate and adapted to beoperated by worms secured on the head of the instrument, saidworm-wheels having hubs each provided with a notch adapted to receive atooth or projection of the knob or thumb-piece, said knob or thumb piecebeing located on the outer end of said pegs, whereby when the stringshave been tightened the pegs can be pushed longitudinally inward andlocked, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EMIL WETTENGEL.

W'itnesses:

Orro GLEICHMANN, AUe s'r PBAGER.

